UEFA opens disciplinary proceedings against Red Star over Ratko Mladic banners

According to the report, Red Star supporters displayed banners referring to the death of Ratko Mladic during the second leg of the Europa League playoff tie.

One of the banners read: “General, eternal glory and gratitude,” while supporters were also heard chanting Mladic’s name during the match.

Mladic, the former commander of the Army of Republika Srpska, was serving a life sentence after being convicted of genocide in Srebrenica, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to The Athletic, UEFA confirmed that disciplinary proceedings had been opened against Red Star for alleged “racist and/or discriminatory behaviour” and for “transmitting a message that is not fit for a sports event”.

The Belgrade club also faces a separate disciplinary charge over the conduct of its team during the match.

Red Star players received seven yellow cards and one red card.

The Athletic also reported that after the match Red Star published photographs of its supporters on the club’s official social media accounts in which the banners referring to Mladic were visible.

The case is now before UEFA’s disciplinary bodies, which will decide on possible sanctions against the Serbian club.

Mladic was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2017 by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia after being convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

His conviction and sentence were upheld on appeal in 2021.

Former Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadzic is also serving a life sentence after being convicted of genocide in Srebrenica and other crimes.

Mladic’s trial began on May 16, 2012, with the presentation of evidence lasting more than four years. The trial involved 530 hearing days, testimony from 592 witnesses and almost 10,000 exhibits.